Eleven players from African club champions TP Mazembe have been named in the DR Congo's squad for the African Nations Championship tournament (CHAN).

Coach Santos Mutubile Ditunga also named six players from 2010 league winners Vita Club.

The CHAN defending champions also named five players from top club DC Motema Pembe.

This year's CHAN kicks off in Sudan on 4 February with the format changing from eight teams to 16.

Included in Coach Ditunga's team are three TP Mazembe strikers who were banned by the Congolese Football Federation after they refused to take part in the just concluded Nile Basin tournament in Egypt.

Their ban was lifted a few days later, after Mazembe complained they had not received a written letter notifying them on the players' suspension.

The strikers are, Kaluyituka Dioko, Patou Kabangu and Bedi Mbeza.

Meanwhile Coach Santos Mutubile, himself a former DR Congo International, says he is expecting a tough CHAN tournament but believes his team can retain the trophy.